VIDEO: The Lodi Fire Department is celebrating a major advancement by announcing the launch of Advanced Life Support (ALS) services. Lodi Fire said this has been 20 years in the making. Now, when firefighters respond to an emergency, they will be able to perform not just basic but also advanced life-saving services. Officials said they are often the first on scene to a call, and now they don’t have to wait for an ambulance to provide critical care to a patient in need.
Typically, ambulances have two EMTs who have to undergo 150 hours of training, but paramedics have to undergo an additional 1,200 hours of training to save lives. Lodi Fire Chief Ken Johnson said this will be a game-changer for the city. “We are bringing a paramedic to your living room within four minutes of you calling 911,” Johnson said. The advanced life support officially launched on Monday morning. Johnson said seven new paramedics have been activated, and 15 will be in the program by next year. Lodi Fire has a new partnership with the fire departments in Stockton and Tracy to save lives throughout San Joaquin County.
